Jul 22, 2026
Closing day
Save the closing disclosure, survey, sales contract, appraisal, and any repair evidence. They can become useful if the county appraisal district notices a value you need to protest.
Texas homebuyer tool
Turn your closing date into a Texas property-tax calendar.
Buying the house is only the first date. Texas buyers need to watch homestead filing, appraisal notices, protest deadlines, tax bills, tax due dates, and escrow reviews.
Deadline words, translated
Form 50-114
The standard Texas residence homestead exemption application.
File with the county appraisal district.
Notice of appraised value
The appraisal district notice that shows the value and protest instructions.
Read it even if taxes are escrowed.
ARB
Appraisal Review Board, the local protest board.
The protest deadline controls when you can get in front of it.
Escrow
Money your lender collects monthly for taxes and insurance.
The monthly amount can change after the actual tax bill.
Timeline
Build a Texas post-closing calendar
After you qualify
File the Texas homestead exemption
File Form 50-114 with the county appraisal district for your principal residence. If you bought after Jan. 1, you may qualify for the current-year portion when the prior owner did not receive the same exemption. File as soon as you qualify.
By Oct 1, 2026 or soon after
Watch for the current tax bill
Tax offices generally mail bills by Oct. 1 or as soon as practical. Your mortgage servicer may pay through escrow, but read the bill and compare it with the estimate.
Feb 1, 2027
Last usual day to pay before delinquency
Most bills are due when received. Jan. 31 falls on a weekend this cycle, so the ordinary last day moves to the next business day. A late-mailed or special bill can use another date; the bill controls.
Feb 2, 2027
Penalty and interest can begin
For an ordinary bill mailed on time, penalty and interest can begin after the payment deadline. Late-mailed and special bills can have a different delinquency date. If escrow is involved, verify the lender paid.
By Apr 1, 2027 or soon after
Watch for the appraisal notice
A residence-homestead appraisal notice should mail by April 1 or as soon as practical if the value increased or another notice trigger applies. Read the value, exemptions, ownership, and protest instructions.
Apr 30, 2027
Next general homestead filing date
Do not wait for this date. The general filing deadline is before May 1, but a post-Jan. 1 buyer may qualify for part of the current tax year. File now and ask the appraisal district to review both years.
May 15, 2027 or later if the notice was mailed late
Protest deadline
The usual deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district mailed the notice, whichever is later. Do not wait if the value, exemption, or property record looks wrong; the notice controls.
This is a planning calendar, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Real deadlines depend on your appraisal district, lender, and closing documents — confirm exemption, protest, and tax-bill dates with your county appraisal district and tax office.
What the timeline is watching
Texas property taxes have an annual rhythm. The appraisal district value comes first, then protests, then adopted tax rates, then the tax bill, then the payment deadline.
If your lender escrows taxes, the lender may pay the tax bill. That does not replace your job of checking the appraisal value, filing homestead, or protesting a bad record.
New construction, a late-year purchase, or a missing exemption can all make the first year messy. Keep the appraisal district, tax office, lender, and title documents together.
Related Texas guides
Estimate property tax
Run the local rate and exemption math before relying on escrow.
Open estimator ->File the homestead exemption
Understand the main-home exemption and where to file.
Read guide ->Protest an appraisal
Know the deadline and evidence before the notice arrives.
Read guide ->Check local place notes
Find CAD links and local issues for curated Texas places.
Browse places ->Sources
Timeline dates are based on common Texas appraisal, exemption, protest, and tax-bill timing.
- Data vintage:
- Texas appraisal, exemption, protest, and tax-bill calendar guidance
- Last reviewed:
- July 10, 2026
- Texas Comptroller property-tax law deadlines - homestead applications, appraisal notices, protest dates, and calendar exceptions
- Texas Comptroller appraisal protests and appeals - ARB protest rights, notice timing, evidence, and protest deadlines
- Texas Comptroller property-tax bills and payment dates - bill mailing, ordinary payment timing, late-mailed bills, and delinquency
- Texas Comptroller property tax exemptions - residence homestead, school exemption, age 65 or disabled exemption, and filing guidance
Before you act: Exact notices, protest windows, tax-bill dates, and exemption processing vary by county appraisal district and tax office. How to use Texas Porch carefully.
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